Adjustable panel and mounting assembly

ABSTRACT

An adjustable panel mounting system particularly adapted for skirting heating systems includes an extruded aluminum front panel (2) having a pair of inwardly turned flanges (10, 12) on its rear surface and flexible winged mounting adaptors (18) made of resilient material such as nylon. The adaptors fit loosely between the flanges of the front panel so as to allow up and down adjustability of the panel position to allow for uneven floors or to enable access to the space behind the panel, and also to allow the panel to move if adjacent panels expand on heating. The rear surface also carries tubes (14, 16) for heating water or electrical heating elements. The mounting adaptors are fixed to the wall by two part mounting blocks (32, 38) which provide additional adjustability in other directions.

This invention relates to an adjustable panel and mounting assemblyparticularly, although not exclusively, for use in a cooling or heatingsystem in which heat exchange panels are mounted on a surface such as awall or a ceiling.

In a preferred application, the invention relates to a heating system ofthe "modular panel" type.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided anadjustable panel and mounting assembly comprising a panel and at leastone mounting member adapted to adjustably support the panel in aninstalled position, the panel and the mounting member being providedwith interengaging means which co-operate slideably, parallel to theplane of the panel, so as to allow adjustability of the panel positionat least in a direction parallel to its plane; characterised in that themounting member comprises a central body portion and a pair of outwardlyextending, resilient or semi-rigid wings or arms, so that, in use, thecentral body portion is resiliently spaced away from the panel, andwhereby the panel can move, under pressure, to compress the mountingmember by flexing the wings.

Preferably, the panel is provided with facing projections and the wingsor arms of the mounting member face apart and fit slideably between thepanel projections. Preferably, the projections of the panel compriseflanges with inturned outer edges which face one another, so as to forma pair of mutually opposed facing slots to receive the mounting member,the spacing between the bottoms of the slots being greater than thedistance between the co-operating ends of the mounting member. Thus whenthe panel is mounted on the mounting member, there is some "lost notion"between them which improves the initial adjustability and subsequentimpact resistance of the assembly, without placing too much stress onthe materials of the components.

Preferably the assembly also comprises a separate surface attachmentdevice comprising a first portion adapted for attachment to a wall orsimilar surface by means of screws or the like, and a second portion,adapted to receive and retain said mounting member, and which is itselfslidably retained in the said first portion.

Consequently, when the assembly is mounted with the slidable directionof the attachment device arranged at right angles to the direction ofthe flanges of the panel, it is possible to adjust the position of thepanel in two directions at right angles to one another. This hasparticular advantages in a wall mounted heating system of the typeincluding a number of cooperating sections, especially where the panelshave to be aligned against surfaces or floors which are uneven.

In a preferred form of the invention, the attachment device incorporatesa socket having a series of ribs on its inner walls, and the mountingmember carries a projection having co-operating external ribs, thearrangement being such that the position of the mounting member, andthus the mounted panel, can also be adjusted inwardly and outwardly,relative to the attachment device, or at an angle to the vertical.

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a dismountable panelassembly including:

(1) A panel having a front surface and a rear surface carrying a pair ofparallel, inwardly facing flanges;

(2) An intermediate mounting member including a pair of outwardly facingparallel flanges or beads adapted to fit between the flanges of saidpanel; and

(3) A surface attachment device, incorporating a mounting adapted toreceive said flanged mounting member;

the connection between said attachment device and said flange mountingmember comprising cooperating male and female connector means.

The rear surface of the panel may carry tubes for heating or coolingfluids, and/or electrical heating elements and the mounting member maybe provided with a further bore, to support and guide a conduit forelectrical power cables.

These cables may be arranged to power an electrical heating element.

The invention also extends to an electrical heating panel incorporatingan integral tubular member containing an electrical heating element, andwhich is preferably formed by extrusion. The panel may also be adaptedto be mounted by means of a resilient or semi-rigid mounting asdescribed above, with the power supply cable threaded through a conduitsupported by the mounting member(s).

Means may also be provided for interconnecting two or more panels in aside-by-side relationship, or spaced apart with "infill" members betweenthem, so that the system can be used to form a "suspended ceiling"effect, which is particularly useful in air conditioning systems inwhich it is required to pass cooling fluid through conduits incorporatedin a ceiling. This arrangement also has the advantage that electricalpower and data cables and other services can be mounted/concealed in theceiling.

The present invention is particularly advantageous when applied to aheating system of the kind incorporating electrical heating elements. Anumber of such skirting heating systems are known, but the majority havespecific drawbacks associated with the electrical and mechanicalinstallation, in particular.

For example, because of the necessity for making suitable electricalconnections to the individual sections of the skirting, it is usuallynecessary to provide modules of fixed lengths, so that extra "dummy"sections are usually required to complete a given run of skirting, fromone end of the wall to the other. Consequently, the installation processtends to become somewhat labor intensive and the end result shows manyjoints which can be rather unsightly.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided anelectrically powered skirting heating module comprising an elongatepanel incorporating an electrical heating element which extends alongthe length of the panel, with its opposite ends stopping short of thecorresponding ends of the panel; and a pair of connection boxes, each ofwhich is adapted to form an electrical termination for one end of theheating element, and which is adapted to cooperate with the panel so asto be mountable at a position between the end of the heating element,and the end of the panel, so that the skirting panel can be cut down toa suitable length, to facilitate proper fitting in position, whilstleaving a sufficient length to accommodate the connection box.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided anelectrically powered skirting heating module comprising an elongatepanel incorporating a heating element and a co-operating mountingassembly including a resilient mounting member having one side whichabuts against the rear surface of the panel, in use, and also includingmeans for supporting a thermal cut-out device, the arrangement beingsuch that the thermal cut-out device is held in contact with the rearsurface of the panel by the resilience of the mounting member.

Preferably, the module is formed by extrusion, and the heating elementis housed in a tubular formation on the rear surface of the extrusion,which is formed with an aperture, near each end of the module, to allowa connection to be made between the heating element and the connectionbox. The connection box itself is preferably located in position bymeans of longitudinally extending flanges formed on the rear surface ofthe module, in which it is slidable, to a suitable position along thelength of the module.

In the case of the electrical heating system, the mounting memberpreferably supports a conduit which has an open side facing the rear ofthe panel, which is adapted to receive a thermal cut-out device, theconduit also including one or more continuous channels for wiring, thearrangement being such that the thermal cut-out device is resilientlyurged into engagement with the rear surface of the panel so as to detectany overheating, and is connected in the circuit so as to interrupt thesupply through said wiring, if such overheating should occur.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided anelectrically powered skirting heating system comprising a plurality ofelongate modules, each of which comprises an outer elongate panel, aninternal heating element and mounting assembly, and an internalelectrical plug and socket connector system which is so arranged thatadjacent modules can be plugged together with the interconnectionsconcealed behind the outer panel. Preferably, the plug and socket systemcomprises a socket assembly mounted on the rear face of the panel neareach end, and at least one pair of co-operating plugs which arepre-wired together by means of a fly lead so that the sockets of twoadjacent modules can be quickly and easily connected.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way ofexample, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross section through a panel of a first type, in accordancewith the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section through a panel assembly of a second type,showing how it is mounted on a wall;

FIG. 3 is a cross section through a first part of a mounting assemblyforming part of the panel assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross section through a second, cooperating part ofthe mounting assembly;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the component of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the component of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7a is a front elevation of a wall attachment component;

FIG. 7b is an edge view of the attachment component of FIG. 7a;

FIG. 8 is a cross section of the component of FIG. 6, taken on the lineVIII-VII, with the component mounted in the attachment device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an "exploded" perspective view of the mounting assemblycomponents;

FIG. 10 is a partly broken away perspective view of an installedwater-type skirting heating system;

FIG. 11(a) is an enlarged perspective view of an external cornercomponent used in the system of FIG. 11;

FIG. 11(b) is an enlarged perspective view of an internal cornercomponent;

FIGS. 11c and 11d are detail views of the corner components FIGS. 11aand 11b;

FIG. 12(a) is a diagrammatic view to illustrate a tube connectorarrangement;

FIG. 12(b) is a perspective view of a connector component;

FIG. 13 is a partly broken away perspective view of an electricallypowered type of skirting heating system;

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross section through a part of the system of FIG.13;

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting assembly of thesystem of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged cut-away view of a connecting box used in thesystem of FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a rear perspective view of an electrically powered skirtingheating panel in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 18 is a rear perspective view of a connection box for use with thepanel of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 19a and 19b show an alternative connecting system; and

FIGS. 20, 21 and 22 illustrates various further panel arrangements.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a basic panel, which may, forexample, be adapted to form part of a skirting panel radiator system,having a front surface 2, a flanged top portion 4 whose inner edge 6abuts against a wall, in use, and whose rear surface 8 carries a pair oflongitudinally extending, inwardly facing flange members 10 and 12forming facing slots 11 and 13 respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, therear surface of the panel incorporates members 14 and 16 which providepassageways to receive tubing for fluid, when the component is used aspart of a skirting radiator system. The tubing is preferably copper tubewhich is expanded into place using hydraulic pressure. The use of copperensures that connection can be made easily by known solderingtechniques. In this embodiment, the flanges 10 and 12 are convenientlyformed as projections on the members 14 and 16.

FIG. 2 also shows how the panel may be mounted against a wall. Themounting assembly comprises a mounting adapter or bracket 18 of aresilient plastics material such as nylon, having a pair of outwardlyextending wings 20, as illustrated in FIG. 4 and also in perspectiveview in FIG. 9, whose outer edges 22, 24 are flat so as to engage in theslots 11 and 13 formed by the upper and lower flanges 10 and 12 of thepanel. Owing to the resilience of the plastics material of the component18, it can be "sprung" into the slots 11 and 13 formed by the flangesquite easily.

The rear part of the central portion of the adapter 18 comprises aprojection 26 which extends parallel to the edges 22, 24, as shown moreclearly in FIG. 4, and which has ribbed upper and lower surfaces 28, 30so that the component can be "plugged into" a wall attachment device 32,38. The central portion of the adapter 18 has a rectangular passage 27passing through it as described in more detail below. As illustratedmore clearly in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 6 to 9, the wall attachment devicecomprises a rectangular steel base plate 32 having opposed flanged edges34, 36, and a mounting block 38 having outwardly projecting rear edgeportions 40, 42 which cooperate slidably with the flanges 34 and 36 ofthe base plate 32.

The central portion of the mounting component 38 is formed with a ribbedchannel 44 which receives the projection 26 of the mounting member 18,as shown in FIG. 2, and this recess has ribbed formations on its upperand lower surfaces corresponding to the formations 28 and 30 of themember 18, so that the depth to which the projection 26 enters therecess 44 is variable.

As will be appreciated from the exploded perspective view of FIG. 9, themounting system is such that the position of the mounted panel is alsoadjustable both vertically and horizontally, in order to accommodate anyirregularities in the surfaces against which, or adjacent to which, itis mounted. As can be seen from the Figures, the position of themounting block 38 is vertically adjustable, by virtue of its slidingcooperation with the mounting plate 32, whilst the panel itself isslidable on the wings of the mounting adaptor 18, in a horizontaldirection. Furthermore, "front-to-back" variations can be allowed for,when the system is set up, in accordance with the depth to which theprojection 26 of the mounting adapter is inserted into the socket 44 ofthe mounting block 38, and the adapter may in fact be "tilted" relativeto the mounting block, if the wall is not vertical.

The system also has the considerable further advantage, compared toknown panel mounting systems, that the flexibility of the "wings" 20 ofthe mounting adapter 18 and their degree of free movement in themounting slots of the panel, are such that movements caused by thermalexpansion of the mounted section or adjacent mounted sections, areautomatically allowed for and the effect of accidental impact damage isminimised. In addition, since the panels can be slid vertically upwardsby a small distance, even after the whole assembly has been installed,for example in a skirting heating system, it is possible to insertcables into the lower void, or for example, to insert the edges of floorcoverings such as carpets beneath the edges. Similarly, the addition ofany further conduit, data cables, connection boxes or the like isconsiderably facilitated.

FIG. 10 illustrates the application of the panel support system to awater type heating system of the "skirting" type. As shown in thefigure, elongate skirting shaped panels 60 are mounted on supportingwalls by means of a series of spaced apart mounting assemblies 62comprising parts 18, 32, 40 as illustrated in FIG. 9. The panelsincorporate tubular channels 64 for the flow and return of heatingfluid, and are connected around corners by means of corner components ofthe kind illustrated in FIGS. 11a-11b. Owing to the flexibility of themounting assembly 62, the problems caused by expansion and contractionof the heating panel are much reduced, as compared to a conventionaltype of mounting in which the brackets are all metal. In particular,because of the flexibility of the "wings" 20 of the mounting adapter,any longitudinal expansion of one of the sections 60 is automaticallytaken up by compression of the adapters of the adjacent section which isconnected to it at right angles, i.e. the adjacent section is simplypushed slightly closer to the wall, with the wings 120 of its adapter(s)being slightly "flattened". Consequently it is not necessary toincorporate large and complicated corner jointing components. Asillustrated in FIGS. 11a and 11b these are formed as relatively simple"box" structures of L-shaped cross-section, with open ends to cooperatewith the ends of the skirting panels, as indicated at 66 and 68 in FIG.10.

As illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11D, each corner unit comprises a pair ofvertical walls 76 at right angles to one another, and an L-shaped topplate 78, with downwardly turned flanges 80 at the edges, which fit overthe top edges of the corresponding ends of the starting panels. Thesetop flanges are formed with inwardly facing beads 150, and similarinwardly facing beads 152 are formed along the lower edge, as shown inthe enlarged views of FIGS. 11c and 11d so that the corner can simplyclip over the ends of the panels. The internal surfaces of the cornerpieces are smooth so that the ends of the panels can expand"telescopically" into them, as they heat up in use.

Referring to FIGS. 12A and 12B, in order to enable the skirting panelunits to be cut exactly to any required length, without the necessityfor leaving projecting portions of tube for making connections, specialconnector inserts 90 may be provided, which fit into the ends of thebores of the flow tubes, as illustrated in FIG. 12a. As shown in FIG.12b, the insert comprises a short tube having an outer end 92 which isof the same diameter as the flow tube of the skirting panel (e.g. astandard 15 mm copper pipe) whilst the other end 94 is of reduceddiameter so as to enable it to fit inside the end of the tube. Each endof the inserts also carries a "solder ring" to enable it to be easilyfixed inside the tube, and so that a standard elbow fitting (forexample) can then be attached to the projecting outer end 92 of theinsert, as illustrated at 96 in FIG. 12a. As mentioned above, no specialtype of elbow fitting is required in the corners, because of theautomatic absorption of expansion by the flexibility of the mountingadaptor.

FIG. 13 illustrates the installation of another embodiment of theinvention which is designed to provide an electrical skirting heatingsystem. The assembly comprises a series of elongate panels 100 which areprovided with flanges 102, 104 (FIG. 14) on their rear surface formounting by means of mounting adapters 18. As best illustrated in FIG.15, an open fronted cable conduit 109 is threaded through the apertures27 of the adapters so as to provide continuous internal channels 112 forelectrical power cables. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the power cable 114is thus supported throughout the length of the panel 100, andconnections at the end of the panel may be made by means of a suitableconnecting box 116, FIGS. 15 and 16. The connecting box 116 is formedwith flanges 246, 248 at its top and bottom edges so that it can be slidinto position between the flanges 102, 104 on the rear surface of thepanel. A connecting terminal block 242 inside the box enablesconnections to be made to the heating element, and a "tail" 276 enablesa connection to be made with the next adjacent section, as illustratedin FIG. 18. Alternatively, the outer side of the connecting box mayinclude a socket to enable connectors to be made using pre-wired"fly-leads" with a plug on each end.

The electrical heating element comprises a long coil having one endconnected to the L (live) terminal, of the connecting box at one end ofthe panel, and its other end 120 to the N (neutral) terminal at theother end of the panel. The coil is housed inside an integrally formedtubular bead 122 at the rear surface of the panel, which is preferablyformed from a material such as extruded aluminium so as to have optimumheat transfer properties. The corners of the structure may be joined byhollow box-like members similar to those of FIG. 11, or by means of aclip-on or "Velcro" type attachment.

Once again, it will be appreciated that the mounting assembly allows ofboth vertical and horizontal adjustment of the position of the skirtingpanel, avoiding the necessity for accurate placement of the mountingplate 16 against the wall, whilst at the same time overcominginstallation problems caused by uneven walls or floors.

It will thus be appreciated from a consideration of the arrangementshown in FIGS. 13 to 18 in particular, that the skirting panel can befabricated in a series of "modular" lengths, in which the heatingelement itself extends along the majority of the length of the module,but terminates at the connection box, at a sufficient distance from theextreme end to allow the module to be simply cut down by a reasonableamount, in order to enable it to fit accurately on a particular site.The connecting box is then wired to the adjacent box in an adjoiningmodule.

FIG. 13 also illustrates how a series of thermal cut-out devices 22a arepositioned along the length of the modules, mounted in the open front ofthe cable conduit 109, so as to be held in contact with the rear surfaceof the panel FIGS. 2 and 9. In practice the thermal cut-out devices willbe spaced at approximately 1 m intervals along the length of each moduleas indicated in FIG. 13. The resilience of the mounting assembly ensuresthat the thermal cut-out device is held in intimate contact with therear surface of the skirting panel, so as to reliably sense theoccurrence of any overheating. The supply cable extends from one thermalcut-out device to the next, so as to connect them in series and so thatthe supply can be interrupted by any one of them when activated, and theconduit also includes further channels for the other wiring of theelectrical supply circuitry.

FIG. 18 also illustrates how a plurality of electrical skirting panelsare connected together, so as to form a continuous installation around anumber of walls in a room. Since the heating element does not extend tothe extreme end of each pre-formed panel 270, each one can be cut to asuitable length, and connecting boxes 240 slid into its ends to allownecessary connections to the internal wiring 274 to be made. As will beclear from the drawing, the connecting boxes 40 may be supplied in pairswhich are already connected to one another by means of `tails` 276 whichare sufficiently long to extend around an ordinary room corner.

It will also be appreciated that since the modules can be cut tovariable lengths, the ends can also be joined more simply at thecorners, for example by mitring them.

Referring to FIG. 19, an alternative interconnection system is shownwhich utilises "plug and socket" connections. In this arrangement, thebody of the mounting member (10) may be slightly enlarged as comparedwith the examples above so as to allow the attachment of a cover 300,which is removable to allow access to the ends of the wiring in channels360 and 364. Terminal blocks 302 and 304 beneath the cover 300 areprovided for making connections to the heating element and the thermalcut-out, and tubular sockets 306, 308 are formed respectively asextensions of the terminal blocks, so that their open ends (310, 312)coincide with the end of the mounting member.

A co-operating plug 314 with pins which fit the sockets 306, 308 has afly lead 316 which is connected to a similar plug (not shown). This plugassembly can thus be used to connect the heating module to an adjacentsocket, without the necessity for any "on-site" wiring.

FIG. 20 illustrates the use of the system in an installation wheregreater heat transfer capacity is required, and shows how two panels 400and 402 can be mounted one above the other, or of course next to oneanother, interconnected by a strip 404 for example of aluminium. It willbe appreciated that the heat transfer effect can be further increased byusing a wider strip. The lower panel 402 is inverted, and each panel hasa slot 406 formed along its (normally lower) edge so that the strip islocated by the mutually opposed slots. The same kind of arrangement canbe used to provide a closed "ceiling panel" assembly, particularlyuseful for cooling systems in air-conditioning installations.

FIG. 21 illustrates a corresponding arrangement for an electricallyheated system, in which the components have been numbered to correspondto those of FIG. 20.

In addition to providing greater heat output, two adjacent panels (whichmay of course be either water or electrically-heated) can be used asillustrated in FIG. 22, to provide an integrated heating/servicetrunking system. As illustrated, the two panels 400, 402 are spacedapart sufficiently to accommodate a trunking module 410 which includescable ducts, and mountings for switches 412, sockets and the like on itsfront surface. The upper edge 414 of the module is provided with aflange which fits into the slot 406 of the upper panel edge, while thelower edge is formed with a "hingeable" flange member 416 which fitsinto the slot 406 of the lower panel, so that access to the interior ofthe module can be obtained by sliding the top panel 400 upwardly torelease the top edge of the module and then hinging the moduledownwards.

I claim:
 1. An adjustable panel and mounting assembly, comprising:apanel having a pair of rearwardly facing projections; a mounting memberadjustably supporting said panel in an installed position, said mountingmember comprising a pair of projections which cooperate with said panelprojections; said panel projections and said mounting member projectionsbeing mutually slidable parallel to a plane of said panel in order toallow adjustability of the panel at least in said plane; and, whereinsaid mounting member projections comprise a resilient material and arein the form of outwardly divergent wings so that said panel isresiliently spaced away from said mounting member and can move, underpressure, toward said mounting member by a resilient flexure of saidwings.
 2. An adjustable panel and mounting assembly according to claim 1in which the panel is provided with facing projections and the wings orarms of the mounting member face apart and fit slideably between thepanel projections.
 3. An adjustable panel and mounting assemblyaccording to claim 1 in which the wings or arms of the mounting memberare provided with facing projections and the panel is provided withco-operating means which face apart and fit slideably between theprojections.
 4. An adjustable panel and mounting assembly according toclaim 2 in which the projections of the panel comprise flanges withinturned outer edges which face one another, so as to form a pair ofmutually opposed facing slots to receive the mounting member, thespacing between the bottoms of the slots being greater than the distancebetween the co-operating ends of the mounting member.
 5. An adjustablepanel and mounting assembly according to claim 1 further comprising asurface attachment device comprising a first portion adapted forattachment to a wall, and a second portion adapted to receive and retainsaid mounting member, said second portion being mounted in the firstmember so as to be slidable parallel to the plane of the wall, wherebythe first portion can be mounted on the wall in a suitable orientationto allow adjustment of the position of the second portion and thus thepanel in a direction parallel to the panel flanges.
 6. An adjustablepanel and mounting assembly according to claim 5 in which the secondportion of the attachment device and the mounting member cooperate bymeans of a plug and socket connection, the socket having a series ofparallel ribs on its inner walls, and the plug having cooperatingexternal ribs, whereby the position of the mounting member can beincrementally adjusted inwardly and outwardly, and at an angle relativeto the attachment device.
 7. An adjustable panel and mounting assemblyaccording to claim 1 in which the mounting member is provided with acentral conduit for the passage of electrical cables.
 8. An adjustablepanel and mounting assembly according to claim 7 further comprising anelongate insert adapted to clip in said aperture to form a sleeve forsaid cables, the insert being formed from a resilient plastic materialand comprising parallel compartments with re-entrant front openings sothat the cables can be clipped into position.
 9. An adjustable panel andmounting assembly according to claim 1 further comprising an electricalheating system suitable for mounting as a room skirting, wherein therear surface of the panel also carries an elongate element chamber foran electrical heating element.
 10. An adjustable panel and mountingassembly according to claim 9 further comprising a thermal cut-outdevice which is mounted between the mounting member and the panel so asto be held in contact with the rear surface of the panel.
 11. Anadjustable panel and mounting assembly according to claim 1, furthercomprising an electrical heating system suitable for mounting as a roomskirting, wherein the rear surface of the panel also carries an elongatechamber for an electrical heating element; and in which each panel isformed as an elongate module made in one of a range of pre-determinedlengths, with the electrical heating element terminating short of atleast one end of the module, whereby the module can be cut to an exactrequired length, in use.
 12. An adjustable panel and mounting assemblyaccording to claim 11 further comprising electrical connector meansadapted to be mounted on the rear surface of the module adjacent eachend, whereby the module may be electrically connected to an adjacentmodule.
 13. An adjustable panel and mounting assembly according to claim12 in which the connector means is provided with mounting flange meansadapted to cooperate correspondingly with the flanges of the panel. 14.An adjustable panel and mounting assembly according to claim 1comprising a fluid type heating system suitable for mounting as a roomskirting, and wherein the rear surface of the panel carries flow andreturn tubes for heating fluid.
 15. An adjustable panel and mountingassembly according to claim 14 further comprising tubular connectorswhich are adapted to fit into, and project from, the open ends of saidflow and return tubes whereby adjacent modules may be cut to anyrequired length and then connected directly together by means of saidconnectors, or connected together using intermediate lengths of standardsizes joints between connectors on adjacent modules.
 16. An adjustablepanel and mounting assembly according to claim 1 and further comprisingcorner joining pieces which are adapted to clip over the outer surfacesof the ends of adjacent panels.
 17. An adjustable panel and mountingassembly according to claim 1 comprising an elongate panel having alocating means along one long edge for locating a strip like joiningmember, whereby the elongate edge can be joined to the correspondingedge of another panel, so that two panels can be mounted adjacent to oneanother, in either a vertical or horizontal plane.
 18. An adjustablepanel and mounting assembly according to claim 17, further comprising atrunking assembly adapted to fit between said edge slots or flanges oftwo adjacent panels.
 19. An adjustable panel and mounting assemblyaccording to claim 17, further comprising a trunking assembly adapted tofit between said edge slots or flanges of two adjacent panels; and inwhich the trunking assembly is provided with a fixed flange along oneside to cooperate with the corresponding slot or flange of a firstadjacent panel, and a hingeable flange along the other side, tocooperate with the other panel, whereby access to the interior of thetrunking can be obtained by sliding said first panel outwardly on itsmounting member or members to release the fixed flange, and then hingingthe trunking outwardly about its other edge.
 20. An adjustable panel andmounting assembly according to claim 1 and comprising a panel assemblywhich is adapted to be mounted on a vertical or horizontal surface, andwhich incorporates both heating means and service trunking for cables,and movable means for access to the interior of said trunking.
 21. Anadjustable panel and mounting assembly according to claim 20 comprisinga pair of parallel heating panel assemblies, the trunking being mountedbetween them, and the access means comprising a hingeable front mountingmember incorporated in said trunking.
 22. An electrical skirting heatingsystem comprising an elongate module made in one of a range ofpredetermined lengths and carrying an elongate heating element whichterminates short of at least one end of the module, whereby a continuousrange of lengths of module can be obtained by cutting down one of saidpredetermined lengths, said module comprising:a panel comprising a pairof rearwardly facing projections; a mounting member comprising a pair ofprojections which cooperate with said panel projections; said panelprojections and said mounting member projections being mutuallyslidable, parallel to a plane of said panel, so as to allowadjustability of the panel at least in said plane; and, said mountingmember projections comprising outwardly divergent, resilient wings,whereby said panel is resiliently spaced away from said mounting memberand can move, under pressure, towards said mounting member byresiliently flexing said wings.
 23. A heating system according to claim22 further comprising electrical connector means adapted to be mountedon the rear surface of the module adjacent each end, whereby the modulemay be electrically connected to an adjacent module.
 24. A heatingsystem according to claim 23 in which the connector means is providedwith mounting flange means adapted to cooperate correspondingly with theflanges of the panel.